CAN WE PASS THIS TEST OF THE SPIRIT?
by J. Preston Eby
There is a simple, but sure, test by which one may discern whether anything pertains to the Kingdom of God or is of "this world." The truth is that all that belongs to the Kingdom of God originates in and proceeds forth from the SPIRIT OF GOD. Every thought, word, desire, action, activity, method, system, movement, or institution which originates in and springs from the life of the Spirit of God IS AN EXPRESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Conversely, all that is of this world originates in and proceeds forth from the carnal mind, which mind is under the dominion of the ruler of this world. The truth of this is powerfully set forth in Eph. 6:12. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Let us read this from the Amplified Bible: "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood -- contending only with physical opponents -- but against the despotism, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural sphere." The Phillips translation says, "For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers the are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil." Thus, every thought, word, desire, action, activity, method, system, movement or institution which draws its genius from the natural mind is not from the Kingdom of God, but of this present world which passeth away with the lusts thereof.
Are we willing to permit everything around us, and all within us, to be judged by this test All of our desires, hopes, ambitions, actions, teachings, prophecies, commitments, involvement's? Let us apply this simple test to a few of the things in the world around us with which we are all acquainted. POLITICS Is the political process in the United States (or any other country) a reflection of the mind of the Spirit of God, discovered by Spirit-led people waiting upon the Word of the Lord, or is it a product of the carnal minds of natural men and determined by debate, ideological agenda, public opinion, or the votes of the masses of unspiritual citizens? BOARD MEETING -- Is your Church (denomination) walking in the Spirit or after the flesh? When the board or ministry of your church (denomination) meets, do they seek the face of God and wait upon the Spirit of the Lord until He speaks and reveals His will, or do they discuss and argue their cases and then vote to see what 51% of them think ought to be done? ORGANIZATION -- Was the organizational structure of your denomination or religious organization inspired by the Holy Spirit under the sovereign Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ? Does it function as a living expression of the mind and wisdom of Christ, or, was it designed by men energetic to organize God's people to build a name and a kingdom, and is it, with its State Charter, unscriptural "board," "board members," "committees," "president," "vice president," "Sunday School Superintendent," etc. patterned after the order of worldly organizations and institutions? PASTORS -- Were the elders, or pastors, of your church raised up and established in their ministries by the anointing of the Spirit, or were they "voted in" by the "sheep" in the same way officials are voted in an out of worldly corporations; or "placed" by some "board" or "committee" without the leadership of the Holy Spirit? MEETINGS -- Are your meetings conducted under the Headship of Christ, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, with each member of the body supplying toward the mutual edification of the whole body as moved by the Spirit? Does "every one" of you have a psalm, have a doctrine, have a tongue, have a revelation, have an interpretation" (I Cor. 14:26), or, do you all just sit back, facing the platform, as in a theater, and watch the "show" put on by the "pastor" and the "music director" from the stage?
It is my deep prayer that by these few examples we may see how easy it is to move out from under the power of the Kingdom of God and simply operate according to the carnal systems of this present world. It requires no spirituality at all to walk after the order of the world, but it takes a true commitment to the Holy Spirit to walk in the order of the Kingdom of God, which is the order of the Spirit. I pray that all who read these lines may be given wisdom to plainly see just how much of our so-called spiritual activities are not of the Spirit but OF THE WORLD. The beloved apostle John tells us plainly just what the world is. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, but is of the world" (Jn. 2:15-17). The divine formula is simple "whatsoever is not of the Father IS OF THE WORLD!" It's just that simple, my beloved. That one easy to understand principle is applicable to our individual lives, collectively to our nation, our government, our church systems, our meetings, our business, our ambitions, plans, hopes, dreams, aims. In everything WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF THE FATHER IS OF THE WORLD! This wonderful law of the Kingdom should greatly assist us in our walk to separate the hay, wood, and stubble from the gold, silver, and precious stones of the living temple of God.
from The Heavens Declare